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The Aero Aerial
The Newsletter of the Aero Amateur Radio Club Middle River, MD
Volume 11, Issue 12 December 2014
Editor Frank Stone AC3P
Editor Pro Tem Georgeann Vleck KB3PGN
Officers Committees President Joe Miko WB3FMT Repeater Phil Hock W3VRD Vice-President Bob Venanzi ND3D VE Testing Pat Stone AC3F Recording Lou Kordek AB3QK Public Service Bob Landis WA3SWA Secretary Corresponding Chuck Whittaker KB3EK Webmaster Al Alexander K3ROJ Secretary
Treasurer Warren Hartman W3JDF Trustee Dave Fredrick KB3KRV Resource Ron Distler W3JEH Club Nets Joe Miko WB3FMT Coordinator Contests Bob Venanzi ND3D Website: http://home.comcast.net/~frank-stone/Aero%20ARC/aero.htm
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Aero-Amateur-Radio-Club/719248141439348
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About the Aero Amateur Radio Club
Meetings
The Aero Amateur Radio Club meets on the first and third Wednesdays of the month. Meetings begin at 7:30
p.m. local time at the Essex Skypark, Diffendahl Road, Essex, MD.
Repeaters
W3PGA 2 M : INPUT : 147.84 MHz, OUTPUT : 147.24 MHz
W3PGA 70 Cm: INPUT : 444.575 MHz, OUTPUT : 449.575 MHz
W3JEH 1.25 M: INPUT : 222.24 MHz, OUTPUT : 223.84 MHz
Club Nets
Second Wednesday Net – 10 Meters (28.445 MHz) @ 8 p.m. Local Time
Fourth Wednesday Net – 2 Meters (147.24 MHz Repeater) @ 8 p.m. Local Time
Fifth Wednesday Net – 70 Centimeters (449.575 MHz Repeater) @ 8 p.m. Local Time
Radio License Exams
The Aero Amateur Radio Club sponsors Amateur Radio License Exams with the ARRL VEC.
Examination sessions are throughout the year. Walk-ins are welcome.
2015 Test Schedule
Where: White Marsh Library, 8133 Sandpiper Circle, White Marsh Md. 21236
Time: 1 P.M.
Dates: January 24, March 14, May 23, August 22, October 24
Contact: Patricia Stone, AC3F, phone: 410-687-7209, email: [email protected]
LOCAL AREA NETS
Day Time Freq. (MHz) Net Name
Daily 9 – 10 am 145.330 Oriole Net
Daily 6 pm 3.820 Maryland Emergency Phone Net
Daily 6:30 – 7 pm 146.670 Baltimore Traffic Net
Daily 7 pm & 10 pm 3.643 MD/DC/DE Traffic Net
2nd
Tue 7:30 pm 146.670 Baltimore County RACES Net
2nd
Wed 8 pm 28.445 Aero ARC Net
4th
Wed 8 pm 147.240 Aero ARC Net
5th
Wed 8 pm 449.575 Aero ARC Net
When activated by NOAA 147.030 SkyWarn (primary)
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New Club Activity Suggested – “Elmer Time”
At a recent meeting, Club member John Kircher W3JMI suggested that we introduce a new feature into our
meetings. As a new (or newish) ham, he has questions – as do a good number of us with limited experience in
amateur radio. He proposed that we have regular presentations by knowledgeable members on topics requested
by the members.
Since we now have a suitable meeting space, with the freedom to “spread ourselves out” in a manner we could
not at Coffman’s, we have begun this effort. Members have volunteered to bring such necessary equipment as a
projector and screen, or computer with “projection” capability, in order to have visuals.
Georgeann KB3PGN was assigned the task of collecting topic suggestions and compiling the list. President Joe
will be presenting it at meetings to discuss who would be the best willing Elmer for the job. It is envisioned
that there would be no more than one presentation per month.
The current list of suggestions, which was introduced at the 11/19 meeting is:
TWO REQUESTS for digital modes
RTTY, PSK, etc. - Equipment, software, procedures
LOGGING SOFTWARE
Including a Logbook of the World (LOTW) demonstration
THE HAM SHACK
Basic HF antennas
Basic useful test equipment
Proper grounding
SATELLITE COMMUNICATIONS
WHAT IS A REPEATER?
What does it consist of? How is it all connected up?
How to set up a portable repeater
Anyone with a topic to suggest, please email Georgeann at [email protected] or [email protected] To
volunteer to speak on a topic, contact Joe Miko.
Editorial comment:
IMHO this excellent suggestion could not have been found workable if we were still meeting at Coffman’s. The
atmosphere was too restrictive.
Corrections to the November 2014 Aerial: WB3FMT was inadvertently off the list of VE’s who helped at the September test session.
On the eviction net report, Mike’s correct call is W3IRE.
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NET REPORTS
10-29-14: 440 Net, 449.575 MHz, 20:00 to 20:15 local
W3PGA Dave (NCS) KA3SNY, Rich KB3VAE, Georgeann KB3PGN
Some discussion of rocket crash & burn at Wallops Island.
11-12-14: 28.445 MHz, 20:00 to 20:26 local
W3PGA (NCS) Joe Essex, W3JEH Ron Perry Hall, W3VRD Phil Essex, AC3P Frank Middle
River, AC3F Pat Middle River, KB3VAE Rich Middle River
Notes: Joe had copying Rich so Frank and Phil did relays. Ron stated that he sent a couple of
topic ideas to Georgeann, Warren has ordered the new controller card.
Next meeting on 11-19-14 to be held at the SkyPark.
11-26-14: 147.240 MHz, 20:00 to 20:35 local
W3PGA (NCS) Joe Essex, KB3PGN Georgeann Essex, KB3VAE Richard Middle River,
KA3SNY Dave Essex, AC3P Frank Middle River, AC3F Pat Middle River, W3JEH Ron Perry
Hall
Note: The repeater appears to be dropping power.
STATION ACTIVITIES
W3VRD is putting the fleet in drydock. N3VBJ has returned from the bunker in Virginia.
KA3SNY is net-control extraodrinaire. KB3PGN is the new entertainment coordinator. We
didn't know that the train ran in the autumn months. AC3F and AC3P were /4 for a few days.
ND3D is legging his way to next year's club contest.
Official 2014 Field Day Results
By Frank Stone, AC3P
The Aero ARC did well for Field Day 2014. The official results were posted on the ARRL
Website and W3PGA did as follows.
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For Section we placed 3rd
out of six Class 4A entries. For Atlantic Division we were 8th
out of
22 for our class. Overall we placed 58th out of 150 Class 4A participants..
Our total score (QSO Points plus Bonus) was 3,420, a good showing.
Congratulations to all who helped in our annual club effort.
Now to plan for Field Day 2015.
VE CORNER
by Pat Stone, AC3F
It was an unprecedented test session. For the first time ever, no one
appeared to take an exam. The VE team waited for almost an hour and there
were no examinees to be found. The team discussed going out to the library
and offering a prize if someone would come in and test, but since no prizes were available they
decided to call it a day.
Thanks to WB3FMT, KB3KRV, KC3EK and AC3P for patiently waiting to see if someone
wanted to take a test.
Aero ARC VE 2015 Test Schedule
Where: White Marsh Library, 8133 Sandpiper Circle, White Marsh Md. 21236
Time: 1 P.M.
Dates: January 24, March 14, May 23, August 22, October 24
Contact: Patricia Stone, AC3F, phone: 410-687-7209, email: [email protected]
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AERO AMATEUR RADIO CLUB -- 25 DAYS AND 25 NIGHTS OF FUN
When: 0000 UTC Thursday 01 January 2015 (1900 EST Wednesday 12/31/15) to 0359 UTC Monday, 26 January 2015 (2259 EST Sunday 01/25/15)
Eligibility: All current AERO members. Station: You may operate from any amateur radio station…from your home, a guest’s home,
terrestrial mobile, maritime mobile, aeronautical mobile, here or abroad. A station may even be operated remotely!
Bands & Modes: Work any legal mode and band allowed by your license class.
Echo Link and IRLP contacts are not permitted. Repeater contacts are OK.
Scoring: One tenth (0.1) point per CW contact. Two (2) points per AM contact Three (3) points per SSB or FM contact Four (4) points per RTTY contact Five (5) points per DIGITAL contact Six (6) points per SSTV contact Ten (10) points per ATV contact Bonus Points: Any contact with another AERO Club Member 25 points per contact
Any straight key CW contact on January 1 50 points per contact
Any contact above the 10 meter band 100 points per contact Any contact via remote operation 250 points per contact Any satellite contact 500 points per contact Any EME (earth-moon-earth) contact 1000 points per contact per team member Any HAR (high altitude ballooning mission) 100K points per mission per team member Other Info: The same station may be worked any number of times. Winner(s) of this contest will run the contest next year. Results: E-mail log sheets to [email protected] by Sunday February 1, 2015 There are lots of opportunities to make contacts during the AERO Contest period…
ARRL Straight Key Night January 1
ARRL RTTY Roundup January 3 & 4
NCJ NAQP CW January 10 & 11
DARC 10M January 11
NCJ NAQP SSB January 17 & 18
CQ 160M CW January 24 & 25
ARRL VHF January 24 to 26
HAVE FUN - - MAKE SOME Q’s !
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PUBLIC SERVICE OPPORTUNITIES
None known at this time.
UPCOMING 2015 HAMFESTS
Sunday, January 25, 2015: Post Holiday Hamfest
Maryland Mobileers Amateur Radio Club
Odenton Volunteer Fire Department, 1425 Annapolis Rd., Odenton, MD 21113
https://sites.google.com/site/marylandmobileers/hamfests-1/hamfest-2
Talk-In: 146.805/146.205 (PL 107.2)
Contact: Bruce McPherson, AB3AC, 484 Peach Leaf Court Odenton, MD 21113, Phone: 410-
456-2500, Email: [email protected]
Saturday, February 7, 2015: Virginia State Convention (Richmond Frostfest)
Richmond Amateur Telecommunications Society
Richmond Raceway Complex, 600 East Laburnum Ave., Richmond, VA 23218
www.frostfest.com
Talk-In: 146.88 -600 (PL 74.4)
Contact: DeeDee Farrell, KK4AVC, PO Box 14828, Richmond, VA 23221, Phone: 804-657-
7038, Email: [email protected]
Sunday, June 21, 2015: BARC Father's Day Hamfest
Baltimore Amateur Radio Club
Arcadia Volunteer Fire Company Grounds, 16020 Carnival Ave., Upperco, MD 21155
www.gbhc.org
Talk-In: 146.67 (PL 107.2)
Contact: Bill Dobson, N3WD, PO Box 120, Reisterstown, MD 21136, Phone: 410-842-5019
Email: [email protected] It is just a few miles north on Route 30 from the top of I-795. The show will be from 8 am until 12 noon and it
will be a TAILGATE hamfest. The prices will be $5 admission and $10 per tailgate spot. More information will
follow soon. Bill Dobson, N3WD
Hamfest listing may be viewed at www.arrl-mdc.net/hamfest.htm
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Finding North by Frank Stone AC3P
Many amateur radio operators are either amateur astronomers or have an interest in astronomy. Both ham
operators and star-gazers use the same electromagnetic spectrum in pursuit of their interests. Hams use
antennas pick up radio waves to send to their receivers while the space aficionados will use a piece of curved
glass to direct light waves to their eyes or some sort of camera or sensor.
In both cases it is important to point the antenna or telescope in the correct direction for maximum signal,
whether measured in meters or nanometers. In order to accomplish this task it is necessary to know where
North is. Finding North is important in orienting a yagi's rotator or an telescope's clock drive. (Orienting seems
like a misnomer since that literally means aligning to East. In this case Polarizing would seem to be more
accurate.).
There are several ways to find North. The “Boy Scout Handbook” says that you can find North using moss
growth on the north side of a tree. Many publications show using a magnetic compass to determine direction.
Astronomy books show the reader how to use the Pointer Stars of The Big Dipper to find the North Star. But
what to do if you are aligning an antenna or setting up a telescope during the day without a tree or compass or
the North Star is blocked from view?
Tree Moss Big Dipper/North Star Magnetic Compass
One can find North by finding South.
Every day at local noon, the Sun crosses a point in the sky called the meridian. At this time objects casting
shadows are showing where North is. By tracing a line in the shadow on a surface one can determine True
North and align the equipment whether antenna or telescope accordingly.
Why not just use a compass?
A compass points to Magnetic North which is not the same as True North. The Earth's magnetic pole can vary
from year to year. Most recently there have been reports of the Earth's magnetic field weakening and a possible
reversal of the poles themselves.
Magnetic North Pole
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To overcome this problem the sun compass was invented in 1838 and was used by surveyors well into the 20th
Century.
Solar Compass
Over the years at Mt. Essex Observatory there have been issues with finding North from the observation deck.
Since the equipment is not permanently mounted, the staff must set the telescopes before each night's use. The
North Star, essential to correct positioning, is blocked from view. With no solar compass or surveying
equipment available, the Mt. Essex staff employed the following method to find North.
At solar noon, the deck railing was used as a reference point. Using the shadow of one of the posts, a string was
laid down in the center of the shadow from the post to the building wall. A line was marked to indicate North.
Materials: String and tacks Marking first point at local noon Extending line within shadow
Terminating string at far end Compass indicating difference Telescope aligned to North between magnetic and true North
Antenna array aligned to North
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SKY Events for December 2014
Dec 2nd
- Uranus is 1.2° south of the Moon.
Dec 6th
- Full Moon . “Cold Moon” for the Celtic and the
“Cold Moon” Traditional Full Moon.
Dec 7th
– Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day, Earliest sunset
Dec 9th
– Jupiter Double Transit 23:20 EST (04:20 UT)
Dec 14th - Last Quarter Moon
Dec 14th
Geminid meteor shower, the Moon is LQ, expect
about 100 meteors per hour associated with minor planet
3200 Phaethon. High in the East at midnight.
Dec 16th
– Jupiter Double Transit 01:12 EST (06:12 UT)
Dec 21st – Shortest day of the year 9hrs 20 min at 40° N Lat.,
Winter Solstice at 18:03 EST.
Dec 21st - New Moon.
Dec 22nd
- Ursid meteor shower in the Little Dipper, the
Moon is New, expect about 10 meteors per hour. Look above
the pointer stars in the bowl of the Little Dipper.
Dec 25th
– Christmas Day
Dec 28th
-- First Quarter Moon.
Planet Lookout at mid-Month Sunrise 07:19 EST and Sunset 16:41 EST
Mercury in the Morning Sky- Most favorable morning
apparition for 2014. Magnitude -0.8; 5.6 arc seconds.
Venus – Low in the West at dusk. Magnitude -3.9 and 9.8
arc seconds.
Mars- Western sky at dusk, sets about 20:11 EST, magnitude
+0.9 and 5.4 arc seconds wide.
Jupiter- In the East at Dawn in Leo, magnitude -2.1 size
37.5 arc seconds, rises 23:09 EST.
Saturn- Not visible behind the Sun.
Uranus- In the South at Sunset. Sets about 03:30 EST.,
magnitude +5.7, size 3.6 arc seconds.
Neptune - In the South at Sunset. Sets about 01:30 EST,
magnitude +7.9, size 2.3 arc seconds.
In the Light of Day – the long and short of it!
We all know that in the winter we have the shortest
day of the year at 40° N latitude it is 9hr 20 min of
light, this occurs on December 21st. The longest
day of the year occurs in the summer with 15 hrs 1
min this is on June 21st. Leading to the longest or
shortest days we pass periods in which daylight
hours are the same. Spring and fall have the same
hours. So when you are in March coming out of
winter’s snows and it seems dark, remember it s the
same amount of daylight as in October.
Mid-Month Rise Set Rise Set
January & December 07:24 17:08 07:19 16:44
February & November 06:58 17:44 06:51 16:50
March and October 07:16 19:14 07:17 18:25
April and September 06:29 19:45 06:48 19:13
May and August 05:52 20:13 06:19 19:59
June and July 05:39 20:34 05:52 20:30
The 15th
of each month was selected for rising,
culmination and setting times. Culmination is when
the Sun is due South at mid-day. For the months of
January, February, November and December times
are in EST, all the other months are using EDT.
The amount of daylight is a result of the Earth’s
23.5° tilt on its axis. And remember when we have
summer the folks in Australia are having winter.
Their Santa comes on water skis in ours comes
using a sled.
21:30 EDT
16:30 EST
07:30 EST
04:40 EDT
J F M A M J J A S O N D
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December 2014
SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY
1 2 3 7:30 pm 4 5 6
Meeting Essex
Skypark
7 8 9 10 8 pm 11 12 13 10 Meter Net
14
15 16 17 7:30
pm
18 19 20 Meeting Essex
Skypark
21
22 23 24 8 pm 25 26 27 2 Meter Net Merry
Christmas
28 29 30 31 8 pm 70 cm Net
